Selectively tweak image contrast

Make the Adjustment Brush your friend

Before quitting the raw conversion process for the foreground, you may want to use Camera Raw to enhance the contrast in any areas you choose. Select the Adjustment Brush and click the minus icon to the left of the Blacks slider. This sets Blacks to -25 and zeroes other controls. Paint to add weight to the darker areas such as the shadows in the sand. To lift the brighter tones, click New to create a second Adjustment Brush, and click the plus icon to the right of the Whites slider. Paint over the brighter areas to boost them.